Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102719 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102719 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out. I’m raw in every sense of the word. Riley kisses my shoulder blades. Cups my breast in his hand and plucks at my nipple, prolonging my orgasm.
He comes just as my alarm goes off.
I reach for my phone and hit the cancel button. There’s a text from Mom, no doubt making sure I’m awake. We have a ferry to catch.
Real life to return to.
An elephant sits on my chest at the thought of leaving this bed. I’m covered in Riley. His body literally surrounds mine. Heat and skin.
My own skin is tight on my back and stomach. It’s covered in his dried cum.
The filthy perv in me loves it.
“You really gotta go, huh?” Riley draws his scruff over my nape.
I nod, throat welling. “Eleven o’clock ferry.”
“You’re not ridin’ the fucking ferry, Lu. I’ll take you and your mama to South Port.”
Reaching behind me, I run my fingers through his hair. “Thank you.”
We’re quiet as we shower. The rain is back, and it drums on the roof above our heads as we drink our coffee in the kitchen. Mrs. Dixon and Marsha stop by with Tom in tow, who looks ridiculous—and ridiculously cute—in his rain jacket.
I feel a potent surge of joy when he makes a beeline for me, jumping onto the sofa and crowding me like he’s a ten-pound lap dog.
“Best hello ever,” I say, laughing.
Riley reaches for him. “Tom—”
“Don’t. I want to get one last snuggle in before I leave.” Tom settles his head on my leg.
“We’re sorry to see you go,” Mrs. Dixon says.
Marsha nods. “No pressure, but we hope you’ll be back again soon.”
“That’s not putting too fine a point on it.” Riley shoots his mom and Marsha a look.
Mrs. Dixon holds up her hands. “We’ll get out of y’all’s hair. Lu, it was so good seeing you.”
I get up to hug them, making Tom whine.
“You jealous too?” Riley teases. “Join the club, buddy.”
After Riley’s parents leave, I join Tom on the couch again, and Riley pours me another cup of coffee.
“So.” Of course he’s shirtless, and of course he looks as hot as hell in his shorts and backward baseball hat. “Can I ask when I get to see you again?”
I swallow my coffee, willing the burn in my eyes to subside. “Tonight, when I FaceTime you to have phone sex.”
“We’re having phone sex?”
“Of course we’ve having phone sex.” More coffee. Please, God, let this cup make me feel less like dying. “I know it’s just a band-aid until I figure my shit out. But could be fun to try something new.”
Riley nods, his bicep flexing when he lifts his mug to his mouth. “I’m in. Always. I’d like to come visit you in Charlotte too, if you’ll have me.”
“You’re welcome anytime, Riley. That’s a given.”
He keeps nodding, but the muscle in his jaw is jumping. “I wanna give you your space, though. If time is what you need from me, that’s what you’ll get. Just—keep talkin’ to me, okay? I wanna know what’s going on in that head of yours.” He sips. “I wanna know how you’re feeling.”
My eyes flood with tears. I wipe them with the sleeve of Riley’s sweatshirt. It smells like him, sunscreen and coconut. Tom licks my face and puts a paw on my thigh.
“This is ridiculous,” I say, laughing. “It’s not like I’m moving to a different planet. I’m going to come back, probably sooner rather than later. It’s a quick drive from Charlotte, even quicker during the week . . .”
Riley’s eyes get soft. “It’s okay, Lu.”
I don’t feel okay, though, as I pack up my things while Riley drives a cart to the house to get Mom.
I don’t feel okay watching Riley help her board Dolly, the two of them laughing about Aunt Lady and Joe’s epic make-out session last night.
I definitely don’t feel okay when Riley wraps me in a tight hug when we de-board in South Port.
He helps Mom and me pack up her car. It’s still spitting rain, so we’re rushing, even though my legs feel like lead weights. By the time Riley closes the trunk, he’s soaked, despite being in a Dixon Carts & More rain jacket.
“Y’all good?” he asks, opening the driver’s side door for Mom before hustling to the other side of the car to open the passenger door for me.
“We’re great.” Mom climbs in and buckles her seat belt. “Thanks for the ride over, Riley. And thank you for all you did for Goldie and Cooper this week. You are a true gem.”
I meet eyes with Riley underneath the hood of my jacket. The space between us thrums.
I want to simultaneously suck his face and throat punch him.
Why’d you have to go and make me fall in love with you all over again?